Situation Update: The UN Must Establish a Commission of Inquiry in Burma

By Burma Partnership • August 26, 2011

Despite the expectations of the international community, there has been no genuine progress towards democracy and peace since the November 2010 elections.

Rather, the military regime has embarked on a manipulative program of window dressing, while refusing to take concrete steps towards meaningful democratic reforms. Months after the convening of the regime-dominated parliament, nearly 2000 political prisoners remain behind bars and the arbitrary arrest of citizens continues to take place.

Militarization, armed conflict, and displacement have increased in ethnic areas after the breakdown of ceasefire agreements between the Burma Army and a number of ethnic armed groups. The Burma Army continues to commit crimes against humanity and war crimes, including rape, murder, and forced labour, without any accountability for the perpetrators or justice for the victims.

The people of Burma continue to suffer while the international community chooses only to “wait and see.” We have now waited long enough and have seen the regime’s true colours. Not only has the human rights situation in Burma deteriorated, but the military junta has shown no willingness to transform Burma into a truly democratic country.

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